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It’s Worth The Trip To See ‘My Fair ’CEDAR GROVE - “My Fair Lady,” with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, is so per* fectly constructed it could withstand a mediocre presentation and still come out on top-it could, but it is never put to the test at the Meadowbrook Theatre / Restaurant, where it opened May 19.ET NEWSPAPERScry Thursday by 'on Packet, Inc. MGSouthMainSt.08835 nc: 725-3300 Managing Editorlesand Business ManagerNEWS-RECORD5t,,Somerset,N.J..........News Editor545-0029lville NewsiSt.,Manviile,N.J. News Editor725-3300^NEWSii, Somerville, N.J. News Editor15-3301l all three newspapers ion rates: One Year Newsstand price 10x 146, Somerville, N.J. 08876TON PACKET INC.tblisherI Corporate HeadquartersPrinceton, N.J. 08540*......... Chairman of the Board Editor and General Managercutive Editor and Business Manager .Mechanical Superintendent...........Circulation ManagerThere the play set to music (from George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion”) is enhanced by star performers Edward Mulhare and Karen Shepard, who wear their roles with the familiar fit of old favorites.Both are well practiced. Edward Mulhare made his American debut as Henry Higgins, taking over from Rex Harrison and playing the role for three years in the original Broadway production, and then using it to sell good will to the Soviet Union, on tour to Moscow, Leningrad and Kiev.Karen Shepard played Eliza at the Meadowbrook twice before, opposite Reginald Gardiner and also the late Zachary Scott. She began as an understudy for Julie Andrews.Edward Mulhare speaks/sings his musical parts in much the manner of Rex Harrison, which is most charmingly effective in “I’m an Ordinary Man.”Karen Shepard has a lovely warm and clear voice, and is particularly fetching when she sings “I Could Have Danced All Night.But the best voice of all was that of John Witham, a lyric “high baritone,” who hailsfrom Highland Park.After two years an an entertainment specialist in the army’s special services, he played in summer stock, in* eluding the Foothill Playhouse in Middlesex.Witham plays an engaging Freddy Eynsford-Hill; in fact he is so pleasant and winning that we almost would not mind if Mr, Lerner had left Shaw’s work unaltered and given Eliza to Freddy. Almost-that is if Mulhare were not playing Henry.“My Fair Lady” is a classic of American musicals, unfurling one lilting tune after another.Donald Yap is to be commended for his musical direction; the choruses are extremely well done by the Meadowbrook group.However, the audio equipment should be listed as a handicap. It seemed to distort the music, which probably did not need mechanical amplification anyway. Thechoreography, directed by Harry Woolever, is delightful, and the race- Iraek scene is most originally effective.Jack Fletcher is a beguiling Alfred P. Doolittle. Col. Pickering is portrayed by Guy Spaull, and while he looked the part and played it with Watson-esque stature, some of his lines were lost in a mumble, others over a stumble. However, his appearance was most proper.The theater-in-the-round stage is made the most of. Changes of scenery occur quickly and quietly in the dark. The aisles are incorporated into the scenes ‘and used with naturalness for ail exits and entrances.What a happy way to start a vacation-or take the place of a vacation if you don't actually get one this year.“My Fair Lady” is most pleasant therapy for the work-weary, guaranteed to set every tired foot to dancing and every zestless heart romancing.Some may go to see the ghost of “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” in flesh-and-blood, others to enjoy the music. No one will be disappointed.Performances will berepeated every Wednesday through Sunday until June 27.Reservations may be made by phoning Barbara Nolan at 256-1455. The theater is located at 1050 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, N.J. (about an hour’s drive) and may be reached by the Garden State Parkway to the Bloomfield Avenue exit, Bloomfield Ave. to U.S. Highway 23.The theater is on the left-hand side of 23 with parking in the rear.COLLEEN ZIRNITE
Newspaper Details
Franklin News Record
Franklin, New Jersey, US
Thu, May 27, 1971
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Jeanne T.
USA 28 Mar 2023
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Franklin News Record
